With the confrontation in the Ukraine, there is a good dela of talk about what kind of foreign policy President Obama is and what this conflict may reveal about him.
"The world is anxious to see how this unlikely leader of the free world responds. But what kind of foreign policy thinker is Obama? Early in his tenure, he appeared an idealist, winning a Nobel Peace Prize, calling for a world without nuclear weapons and urging democratic reform in the Middle East and parts of Asia. But, as Fred Kaplan argues in the March/April issue of Politico Magazine, lately the president has proved himself more of a realist, willing to negotiate with the likes of Iran and refusing to get sucked into a raging civil war in Syria, despite a death toll topping 100,000. So what really drives Barack Obama’s foreign policy—the belief that he can and should make the world a better place or that America should intervene abroad only when the benefits to the United States are worth the costs?"
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/03/obama-russia-ukraine-foreign-policy-test-104211.html?hp=l1#.UxZr0T_IYi4
I don't think the President was ever an 'idealist' on foreign policy. I think that what you saw early in his Administration was a complaint that he lacked an Obama Doctrine. However, I think this may be his doctrine-the Obama Doctrine is to have no doctrine. Yes, I know the Republicans will knock this as 'going piecemeal' but it makes no sense to try and put down categorically how you will react to any possible eventuality in this unpredictable world today. I think the terms of the debate-idealist vs. realist-don't work entirely for President Obama as I think he's a little of each. I don't think he's wholly realpolitic-where all that matters are our own straregic and geoplitical interests-but by the same token that's obviously important. I think on many foreign policy matters he's taken just the right tone.
There were some that complained that he got involved in Libya, he didn't get involved in Syria, and there are a good deal of conservatives who even wanted him to take Murbarak's side in Egypt. If you're looking for an overriding 'Doctrine' in these episodes you won't find them. I think that in each situation he weighed the different considerations-both what's good for U.S. foreign policy but alos considering the humanitarian element. In Libya he chose the middle course-neither simply letting Ghaddafi crush the rebellion or getting ground troops bogged down in another openended conflict. In Syria he realized taht there's just no 'winning' in this tragic, bloody civil war. Noah Smith makes a pretty good case that he's been very strong overall and I agree.
http://noahpinionblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/obama-seems-very-good-at-foreign-policy.html#comment-form
He says he thinks overall Obama is very solid on FP but that the 'next few days, could prove me wrong, very wrong.' I tend to think this is overstatement. How can one event really change everything we know about him? I doubt this will. I do see that there are many competing claims that he will have to shfit through. Yes, what Putin is doing in the Ukraine is apalling-as is his continued eclipse of democracy in Russia. However, we also need Putin's help in a strategy to finally stop the terrible crime against humanity going on in Syria. What I know about the President until now suggests he'll do a fine job.
Part of why it's hard to take conservative criticism of Obama seriously, is they don't know where to stop. Lindsay Graham has really acted in a appalling way on the world stage. He makes it clear that what counts for him and Republicans in general is partisan politics above all to talk of 'rolling my eyes' when the President speaks on important foreign policy matters. This is right up there with 'you lie!'
Shame on you Senator! You have disgraced yourself.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/good-lord-is-this-guy-stupid
P.S. Noah gives a number of reasons why Obama is very good on FP, but I think he's especially correct that Obama has repaired our image around the world.
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